Annual Top 10 List: 2020

[Wartstein]

Depends on what is the focus of that list - there´s a ton of difference between "top ten candidates if if I could only have one", "most used" or "if I could have ten total: ranking"... guess I´ll just rank the top ten of those I own by how much I like each in this very moment...:)

1.) Endura 4 HAP40
2.) Endela SE
3.) Endura 4 VG10
4.) Stretch 1 HAP40
5.) Stretch 1 VG10
6.) Chaparral FRN
7.) Pac Salt 1 SE
8.) Manix 2 LW REX45
9.) Delica 4 CE
10.) Manix 2 LW BD1N

[justjohn]

1. Canis
2. Siren
3. Native 5 SPY27
4. Byrd Cara Cara
5. RockJumper
6. Pacific Salt 2 Green
7. Chaparral CF/G10
8. Delica 4 Emerson Opener
9. Hawkbill Byrd
10. Native 5 Fluted CF

I kinda wish my jeans had 10 pockets. :D

[FullFlatMind]

The Shaman took me by surprise since I wasn't a big fan when I first got it. It is very comfortable and very capable. It makes a great go-to knife for almost any task. Same goes for the Manix 2 XL. The Pac Salt gets a lot of weekend use. The Chap LW is an excellent pocket knife. The SpydieChef is just darn good and I'm glad I picked it up in ano blue. The Junction just works and is easy to belt carry. The Para3 SPY27 is my new go-to for LW pocket carry with running shorts or pjs.

1. Shaman
2. SpydieChef
3. Manix 2 XL M4
4. Pac Salt 1 SE
5. Chaparral FRN
6. Junction
7. Para3 LW SPY27
8. PM2 20CV
9. Kapara
10. Delica 4 Cruwear

Special mention would be my four Z-Cuts. They get used in the kitchen A LOT and have been excellent. Super slicey.

[vivi]

2017:

+ Pacific Salt
+ Police 3
+ Military
+ Szabo Folder (second run)
+ Spyderhawk
+ Spin
+ Aqua Salt (first run)
+ Ronin 2
+ Swick 3
+ Street Bowie (current version)

2018:

+ Pacific Salt SE
+ Pacific Salt PE
+ Police 4
+ Manix XL DLC
+ Spyderhawk SE
+ Aqua Salt
+ Swick 3
+ Street Bowie
+ Cara Cara 2
+ Tasman Salt

2019:

+ Police 4 Lightweight
+ Police 4
+ Pacific Salt 1 SE
+ C95 Manix
+ Manix XL DLC
+ Street Beat
+ Waterway
+ Tasman Salt SE
+ Street Bowie
+ Aqua Salt

2020:

1. Pacific Salt 2 FFG
2. Police 4 K390 / G10
3. M4 Manix XL
4. Aqua Salt
5. Police 4 LW
6. Street Beat LW
7. C95 Manix sprint
8. Military
9. Siren
10. Tasman Salt

[zuludelta]

2019:

• Introvert (VG-10)
• Native 5 Lightweight Combo Edge (CPM-S35VN)
• Delica 4 Combo Edge (VG-10)
• Salt 2 Spyder Edge (H1)
• Tasman Salt 2 Spyder Edge (H1)
• Yojimbo 2 (CPM-S30V)
• Dragonfly 2 Salt Hawkbill (H1)
• Dragonfly 2 Spyder Edge (VG-10)
• UK Pen Knife (CTS-BD1N)
• Native 5 Lightweight Salt Plain Edge (LC200N)

Honourable mentions: Karahawk (VG-10), Ronin 2 (CTS-BD1N), Alcyone (CTS-BD1), Waterway (LC200N), Li'l Native Compression Lock Spyder Edge (CPM-S30V)

2020:

• Yojimbo 2 (CPM-S30V)
• Delica 4 Wharncliffe PE (VG-10)
• Li'l Temperance 3 (CPM-S30V)
• Para Military 2 PE (CPM-S30V)
• RockJumper PE (VG-10)
• Para 3 Lightweight PE (CTS-BD1N)
• Native 5 Lightweight PE (CPM-S30V)
• Delica 4 Emerson Wave Opener (VG-10)
• Endura 4 Wharncliffe PE (VG-10)
• Karahawk (VG-10)

Just to be clear, this is my top 10 most used knives of last year, not my top 10 favourite knives (although there is a lot of crossover between the two categories). There are a number of Spydercos that I really like, but I just didn't use them enough over the past year to break into my annual top 10. These include the Manbug (my most carried knife since it lives on my keychain, but I rarely use it since I almost always have a bigger knife in-pocket), Dragonfly 2, Introvert, Schempp Rock, Ronin 2, Waterway, UKPK, Polestar, Alcyone, and Li'l Native.

The most notable change in my list from last year's is the Introvert dropping out of my top 10. That knife was one of my most used and carried knives of 2019 and it is still one of my favourite designs. I changed jobs right at the beginning of 2020 (same company and location, just a different, better-paying position) and the new job has me wearing insulated work gloves (because I'm working in subzero temperatures). Unfortunately, that means the Introvert is out of my work knife rotation since the finger ring isn't big enough to comfortably accomodate my index finger with an insulated work glove on. It still works fine with regular work gloves, of course, and I still carry and use the Introvert outside of work. But since the bulk of my folding knife use is work-related, it had to drop out of my rankings.

The other big change from last year is that my most used knives all have plain edges, whereas last year, six out of ten knives in my top 10 list were either Combo Edge or full Spyder Edge models. Again, this mostly had to do with my new job. My old job had me cutting a lot of industrial-strength synthetic straps and cordage, something that Spyderco's serrations excel at. These days, I cut damp and wet 275 lbs.-test cardboard more than anything, and I've found a keen stainless steel plain edge to be better suited for that task.

[Holland]

Depends on what is the focus of that list - there´s a ton of difference between "top ten candidates if if I could only have one", "most used" or "if I could have ten total: ranking"... guess I´ll just rank the top ten of those I own by how much I like each in this very moment...:)

1.) Endura 4 HAP40
2.) Endela SE
3.) Endura 4 VG10
4.) Stretch 1 HAP40
5.) Stretch 1 VG10
6.) Chaparral FRN
7.) Pac Salt 1 SE
8.) Manix 2 LW REX45
9.) Delica 4 CE
10.) Manix 2 LW BD1N

Solid list

No real rules for the list. It's just interesting to see how the list changes year over year, regardless how you build your list

[Philo Beddoe]

Want make it to 10 because I go strictly by pocket time..List by pocket time:

1.) BHQ M4/Jade Military
2.) KW S90V/CF Manix XL
3.) Rex 45 Military
4.) KW 52100 Manix
5.) ZDP189 Stretch

Out walking I carry a Szabo..

[Blnd]

1. Dragonfly 2 - VG-10, Black FRN
2. Dragonfly 2 - ZDP-189 (goodbye, sweet hat).
3. Atlantic Salt

I have other spydercos, but they all sit in a box in my closet and collect dust.

[JD Spydo]

I find this quite interesting. Because for a few years I would do a "JD's Top 10" and I tried to do it at least once or twice a year. But I haven't done it in a while. And it is most interesting to see what makes it into a person's individual "Top 10 Favorite Spyderco models". I've wondered at times if that was fair. because even though I'm mainly a devout Spyder-Head there are still a few knives of other manufacturers that I do indeed like.

right at this very minute some of my personal Top 10 Spyders are
C-60 Ayoob ( SE & PE)
Dodo'
JD Smith
C-36 Military
Spyderhawk
Harpy ( especially the old G-10 Harpy)
TEMPERANCE 1 fixed blade ( SE & PE)
Stainless RESCUE model from the ATS-55 Era
C-44 Dyad from the ATS-55 era
C-46 Lum Tanto folder CE
That's just a few off the top of my head. I do also have some honorable mention units that I mainly use in the kitchen and other food jobs
Catcherman models
K-04 & K-05 Spyderco kitchen knives
TEMPERANCE 1 ( SE & PE) for food jobs
But I could go on for a while. But it's threads like this that give newcomers something to work with making their own decisions.

[Holland]

1. Dragonfly 2 - VG-10, Black FRN
2. Dragonfly 2 - ZDP-189 (goodbye, sweet hat).
3. Atlantic Salt

I have other spydercos, but they all sit in a box in my closet and collect dust.

Curious which knives you have locked up in your closet, care to share?

[Blnd]

1. Dragonfly 2 - VG-10, Black FRN
2. Dragonfly 2 - ZDP-189 (goodbye, sweet hat).
3. Atlantic Salt

I have other spydercos, but they all sit in a box in my closet and collect dust.

Curious which knives you have locked up in your closet, care to share?

A native5, delica-something, para2, and a handful of ladybugs. The ladybugs don’t have clips (I don’t carry on my keychain anymore) and the others are too big (my Atlantic salt stays clipped to My sailing lifevest.)

I have an H1 SE dragonfly that lives in my tackle storage, and my wife commandeered my H1 SE ladybug for her own purse carry.

That’s about it. I like clipped 5th pocket carry for edc/hiking/backpacking. Hard to beat a dragonfly for that.

[vaisforlovers]

I made the list and see things have not substantially changed since 2012.

In no particular order for this year:

2020
1. Caly 3
2. Slysz Bowie
3. Southard
4. Dragonfly Salt SE
5. Jess Horn
6. Kopa (particularly the Gold MOP one)
7. Delica (VG10)
8. Techno 1
9. PITS
10. SS Lava

Honorable Mention, the Chaparral - I just can't make it displace any of my top 10.


2018
1) Dragonfly Salt Serrated Edge - C28SYL2
2) Slysz Bowie - C186TI
3) Southard - C156GBN
4) Ladybug Hawkbill Salt - LYL3HB
5) Techo - C158Ti
6) Jess Horn - CX08GGY
7) Caly 3 - C113 (Particularly the HAP40)
8) Delica - C11F (Particularly the Super Blue)
9) Salt 2 SE Black Blade - C88BBK2
10) PITS - C192Ti


2017
1) Slysz Bowie - C186TI
2) Dragonfly Salt Serrated Edge - C28SYL2
3) Southard - C156GBN
4) Techo - C158Ti
5) PITS - C192Ti
6) Caly 3 - C113 (Particularly the HAP40)
7) Jess Horn - CX08GGY
8) Delica - C11F (Particularly the Super Blue)
9) Lava - C110
10) Des Horn - C153G

2015
1) Dragonfly Salt Serrated Edge - C28SYL2
2) Slysz Bowie - C186TI
3) Southard - C156GBN
4) Damascus Caly - C113CFPD
5) Ti or G10 UKPK - C94Ti/C94GFG
6) Techo - C158Ti
7) Lava - C110 (the original stainless)
8) Delica - C11F
9) Gayle Bradley - C134CF
10) Des Horn - C153G

2014
1) Slysz Bowie - C186TI
2) Southard - C156GBN
3) Damascus Caly ~ C113CFPD
4) Ti or G10 UKPK ~ C94Ti/C94GFG
5) Dragonfly Salt Serrated Edge - C28SYL2
6) Techo ~ C158Ti
7) Lava ~ C110 (the original)
8) Delica - C11F
9) Gayle Bradley ~ C134CF
10) Des Horn - C153G


2012
1) Damascus Caly ~ C113CFPD--- V
2) Salt I ~ C88YL
3) Caly 3 ZDP ~ C113CF
4) Ti or G10 UKPK ~ C94Ti/C94GFG
5) Lava ~ C110
6) Delica ZDP Combo Edge ~ C11GRE
7) Techno ~ C158Ti
8) Chaparral ~ C152CF
9) Gayle Bradley ~ C134CF
10) Dyad JR. ~ C39P&SBG

[Haunted House]

Interesting to see the Shaman only get 3 mentions. With how rabid folks went over the Shamans (especially Cruwear Shamans) I would’ve thought It would get more love.

My list is pretty simple:
1. Delica Cruwear (grey) :spyder:
2. Delica Hap40 Wharncliffe :spyder:
The rest of my Spydercos sit in their boxes.

Next year my list will certainly have the PM 2 tanto, and if Spyderco makes them- Delica k390 Wharncliffe & Salt 2 LC200N Serrated.
(After seeing all the praise, I’ll probably try an Endela as well).

[Enactive]

My 2019 list:

Crucarta Shaman
SpydieChef
Cruwear Native 5
Native Salt
Native Chief
G10 s30v Shaman
V Toku Stretch 2
Santoku
Efficient green G10
Byrd Rescue 2 orange

2020

Kris
Crucarta Shaman
SpydieChef
Cruwear Native
Rex45 Manix 2 LW
Pacific Salt 2 LC200N PE
Pacific Salt 2 LC200N SE
Hap40 Stretch
Dragonfly Salt HB SE
K390 Delica

I finally got a few FFG SE ground Spydies, which affirms what i thought about preferring FFG over a saber grind.

I have gushed elsewhere about the Kris and the REX45 Manix LW. I am also quite impressed with the Pacific Salts in LC200N (although i know there have been some QC issues and lots of loose screws reported --which is part of the flipside of not having factory applied threadlocker). My old CruWear friends from last year are still favorites as is the Chef. The Hap40 Stretch and K390 Delica are both excellent with thin grinds and good lock up. The Dragonfly Hawkbill was purchased as part of both of my challenges to myself to try smaller Spydies and more SE models. I will say that i think that model is unique in the market and quite excellent-- for my hand size the Dragonfly is just barely big enough.

I suspect that my new SPY27 Native LW might join the list, but honestly i just haven't used it yet. I look forward to trying that steel and hope to really enjoy a different stainless steel that isn't LC200N. From the reports on performance and sharpening i am optimistic. I had planned to get the SPY27 Manix, but went for the Native instead.

[Holland]

Awesome lists so far, very cool to see year-over-year changes and consistencies in preferences